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ID 110681
Author
Nakamura, Yasuo Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine
Inoue, Masahiro Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima|Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine
Okumura, Yuushi Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima KAKEN Search Researchers
Shiota, Mayumi Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima
Nishikawa, Mai Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima
Arase, Seiji Department of Dermatology, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine Tokushima University Educator and Researcher Directory KAKEN Search Researchers
Kido, Hiroshi Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima Tokushima University Educator and Researcher Directory KAKEN Search Researchers
Keywords
serine protease
testis
elongated spermatids
spermatogenesis
fertilization
Content Type
Journal Article
Description
Esp-1/testisin, a serine protease abundantly expressed in human and mouse testis, is presumed to play an important role in the process of spermatogenesis and fertilization. In this study, we cloned an esp-1/testisin cDNA from rats, and analyzed its expression and tissue distribution. The isolated cDNA consisted of 1099 nucleotides with a single open reading frame encoding 328 amino acids and an expected molecular mass of 36.6 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of rat Esp-1/Testisin had 89% and 62% identity with its murine and human counterparts, respectively, and appeared to be a trypsin-type serine protease with a hydrophobic region at the C-terminus. By quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, rat esp-1/testisin mRNA was predominantly expressed in testis, as in human and mouse. However, its immunohistochemical distribution was predominantly in the elongated spermatids at steps 12 to 19, and not in the primary spermatocytes and round spermatids. This different distribution profile suggests that Esp-1/Testisin plays a role in species-specific proteolytic events during spermatogenesis and fertilization.
Journal Title
The journal of medical investigation : JMI
ISSN
13431420
NCID
AA11166929
Volume
50
Issue
1-2
Start Page
78
End Page
86
Sort Key
78
Published Date
2003
EDB ID
FullText File
language
eng
TextVersion
Publisher
departments
Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences
Medical Sciences